Agenda - 02-19-2013 - 7b - Laserfiche WebLink

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PURPOSE: To provide direction to staff: 1. To schedule a public hearing for the April 9, 2013 regular Board meeting to consider the establishment of the three new Fire Service Districts - the South Orange Fire Service District, the North Chatham Fire Service District and the Greater Chapel Hill Fire Service District; 2. To authorize staff to move forward with a five -year contract for the Town of Chapel Hill to provide fire protection for the proposed new Greater Chapel Hill Fire Service District at a 15 cent tax levy per one - hundred dollar valuation of real and personal property; and 3. If the Town of Chapel Hill is unwilling to a support a five -year contract and a 15 cent tax levy per one - hundred dollar valuation of real and personal property for a proposed Greater Chapel Hill Fire Service District, instruct staff to request that the Town of Carrboro consider a five -year contract to serve the proposed new Fire Service District at a 10 cent tax levy per one - hundred dollar valuation of real and personal property. BACKGROUND: On September 13, 2011 the Board was presented options for changing fire districts to improve insurance ratings for the 1,156 properties located outside of six (6) road miles from the closest fire station located in their fire insurance district. A County Attorney's memorandum dated September 1, 2011 provided a legal opinion for fire protection tax districts, with the available options are listed below: 1. Realign Fire Insurance District boundaries without changing Fire Tax Districts. 2. Change existing Fire Protection Districts, which would also change the Fire Tax District. 3. Establish one or more Fire Service Districts to replace or overlay existing Fire Protection Districts which could also change Fire Tax Districts. On March 13, 2012 the Board approved the request from the Orange Grove Fire Department to construct a new fire station #2 that is strategically located in the southeastern part of the Cane Creek Fire District. This newly constructed fire station is providing insurance district coverage for an estimated 400 property owners that were more than six (6) road miles from the Orange Grove Station. The Orange Grove Fire Department is in the planning stages for a new fire station #3 to be strategically located in the western part of the Cane Creek fire district. That new fire station #3 will provide insurance district coverage for an estimated 250 property owners currently more than six (6) road miles from the Orange Grove Station. The Emergency Services Workgroup has discussed all available options for the 1,156 properties located outside of six (6) road miles from the closest fire station located in their fire insurance district. With the new fire stations in the Cane Creek Fire District, over 600 property owners will be provided insurance district coverage and will be located less than 6 -road miles from the nearest Orange Grove Station. The Emergency Services Workgroup is recommending the creation of three (3) New Fire Service Districts to overlay and replace three (3) existing Fire Protection Districts. With input from the State Fire Marshal's office, the proposal is to modify existing fire insurance districts and create new Fire Service Districts that are exactly the same as the revised fire insurance districts. The three (3) Fire Services Districts are proposed to be the South Orange Fire Service District, North Chatham Fire Service District and Greater Chapel Hill Fire Service District.